Patriots’ McCourty becoming a mainstay at safety

When the Patriots host the Steelers on Sunday afternoon at Gillette, Devin McCourty will be one of the “other” safeties on the field.

By PAUL KENYON

FOXBORO — When the Patriots host the Steelers on Sunday afternoon at Gillette, Devin McCourty will be one of the “other” safeties on the field.

Troy Polamalu, a seven-time Pro Bowl star for Pittsburgh, always is the most recognizable and accomplished at his position whenever he takes the field. As this season has progressed, though, some have begun talking about McCourty as a Pro Bowl candidate, as well.

The former cornerback has settled in nicely at his new position and is one of the main reasons the Patriots have a much-improved defense. No less an authority than Tom Brady talked up McCourty’s work this week. He spoke about how McCourty has a very different style than the aggressive Polamalu. He works the way the Patriots want it done.

“Sometimes you have safeties that are guys that play in the box and guys that are going to run force, support at the line of scrimmage, and you have other safeties that really roam the deep part of the field,” Brady explained.

McCourty, like so many of the younger safeties in the league these days, spends more time roaming the field defending passes than coming up to challenge the run.

“Like the play that was made the other day with him and Marquice [Cole]. That was an amazing play,” Brady said, referring to a sequence against Miami in which McCourty deflected a Ryan Tannehill pass and Cole picked it off at the sideline. “Devin was basically on the other side of the field and took off running. To be able to cover that much ground and have that kind of range as a post safety is remarkable. I see that every day in practice.”

That play caught the eye of Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, as well.

“He is a very aware player. He’s got a lot of range,” Tomlin said. “That play last week on the sideline tells you everything you need to know about him. He is a smart and selfless player; to tip that ball back in bounds to that other DB is impressive.”

Brady said he sees McCourty work that way every day in practice.

“You try to look him off, and he knows you’re trying to look him off, so he doesn’t take it,” Brady said. “There are other times he gets great jumps on the ball. The longer he’s been at safety, the better he’s done. He’s really been a consistent player for our team. He knocks balls away, covers guys in man coverage and then has that range in the deep part of the field where he truly plays like a safety.”

Steve Gregory, who works alongside McCourty as the Pats’ other safety, appreciates what McCourty does.

“Obviously, Dev’s a great athlete as you all know. He’s fast, he’s physical, he tackles well and he’s smart,” Gregory said. “He’s very unselfish. He puts team first. He’s easy to work with. He takes pride. in what he does and he cares about it.

“Any time you put those types of combinations together, you get a guy that’s going to be pretty passionate about football and a guy that’s going to go out there give you everything he’s got,” Gregory said. “He does that on a weekly basis. He’s a great guy to have around, a great guy to play next to, a great guy to play with. I’m glad he’s on my team.”

Gregory, like McCourty, has experience at cornerback. He feels that helps.

“I think it helps a lot you understand what receivers are trying to do to the corners on the outside, how they’re trying to get separation, create space and things like that,” Gregory explained. “Obviously, they are two totally different positions. Safety, I think, has a little bit more communication things going on, dealing with the linebackers and the front as far as run fits and things like that. That does change the dynamic. But being a player who has played both positions definitely helps.”

McCourty knows his style is different. He compares his style to Jairus Byrd, Buffalo’s young star at the position.

“He’s in our division. I get to see him play a lot. I think he’s similar in being able to cover a lot of ground, being able to cover receivers and some of those hybrid tight ends,” McCourty said. “You won’t see as many linebacker or strong-safety styles anymore because there’s so much passing. It’s rare you see teams line up in heavy formations and just run.”

“When I came into the league as a rookie at corner, there might have been three things I had to make sure I got out to the defense, and that would be it for the whole game, then maybe only one thing might happen,” McCourty said. “‘Now it’s every snap where something could happen where I’m in control. That took a little getting used to.”

Gregory feels he and McCourty are still learning on the job.

“It’s always a growing thing,” he said “We’re still working each and every day to try to fine-tune some of the things we’re doing out there, to try to grow together as a group, as a defense and as an overall team. The more we can do that in fine-tuning the little details of what we’re trying to do, the better we will be.”

Pats coach Bill Belichick gave McCourty his seal of approval, too.

“Devin has done a good job for us, like he always does. He’s very well prepared. He’s been real durable, been out there every day and has given us good communication and leadership along with Steve [Gregory],” the coach said. “He and Steve have both done a real good job of controlling the defense from those safety positions and to the linebackers, and we’ve been in a lot of multiple defensive back defenses this year on nickel, dime-type situations because of the teams we’ve played and the situations we’ve been in.

“That involves a lot of communication back there, and they’re always right at the center of it. Devin is a great example for all of us with his work ethic, his toughness, his consistency. He’s just a solid worker, great kid, communicates well, he’s smart and he’s been a very dependable guy for us, like I said, as Steve has at the other safety position,” Belichick added. “We’ve been fortunate all year for what those two guys have given us and how that extends to the rest of the secondary and even at the linebacker level and some coverage adjustments.”

Belichick pointed out that McCourty has carried extra responsibilities, including doing some kick returning and acting as a gunner on the punt team.

“Nobody works harder, prepares harder than Devin does. He’s always in good condition, he’s tough and he really works at his job, whatever you ask him to play, whether it’s nickel, corner, safety, kickoff coverage, kickoff returners, gunner, vice on the punt return,” the coach said. “He’s a very well prepared and competitive football player in every situation.”